First Teaser Screenshot of Path of Exile: Sacrifice of the Vaal Released

Developer Grinding Gear Games sure knows how to tease Path of Exile fans. After announcing the mini-expansion Sacrifice of the Vaal a few days ago, Grinding Gear has now released its first teaser screenshot, which poses many more questions than it answers.

Keen observers will notice four differences from the current version of the game. The most obvious is the red "Corrupted" that appears at the bottom of the item description, but what that means is anyone's guess. The second is the addition of a white socket. White sockets currently exist in the game, but as far as I know, they are only present in one highly unique item – the Tabula Rasa robe, which was a Race Season Two prize for reaching 360 RP. This screenshot seems to indicate that white sockets will now be able to appear on other items, though the rarity is obviously unknown, as is whether only corrupted items will have them.

The last two differences are a lot more subtle. If you look closely, you'll notice a blood drop on the middle mouse button skill. Again, good luck figuring out what that means. Then lastly, the menu icons between the health orb and potion bar has changed. The top left icon, which is currently a cog wheel for the settings menu, has been replaced with what looks like a flag icon. Could this flag icon be PvP related?

Like I said, this Sacrifice of the Vaal teaser screenshot poses more questions than answers. Looks like we'll have to tune in Thursday, when information on the features will supposedly be unveiled. Sacrifice of the Vaal goes live March 5, 2014.